PARTY LINES : `NOISE' FUND-RAISER TAPS THEATERGOERS TO HELP PLAYWRIGHTS.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

OK, so it isn't Broadway, but the floorboards of the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center of Los Angeles County are shakin' with the toe-tapping sounds of ``Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk.'' Finally, this awesome tap-dance spectacle has come to L.A., enticing nonregular theatergoers to fill the theater and clap and tap to the music.

More than 500 fans attended the welcome-to-L.A. party, a special matinee to benefit Center Theatre Group's four multicultural play-writing programs: Latino Theatre Initiative; Asian Theatre Workshop; Other Voices, a program that reflects a new vision of the disability experience; and the Blacksmyths, which provides a collaborative environment for emerging African-American writers. The guests raised about $50,000 and got to meet the performers as well as the high-profile party hosts, who included ``NYPD Blue'' star Jimmy Smits and girlfriend Wanda De Jesus.

Smits, wearing a black suit with a matching shirt, sort of stole the show - or at least the limelight - as crowds screamed his name. But he was a good sport and stayed until the end of the after-theater cocktail party to chat with the cast and fans. Other celebs included Rif Hutton of ``Jag'' and Denise Nicholas from ``In the Heat of the Night.''

Not your usual theater party, guests were asked to dress funky. And the best-dressed award went to former Playmate of the Year Barbi Benton, who wore a dazzling fluorescent green tulle cocktail dress. Her husband, George Gradow, showed up in overalls. Otherwise, it was pantsuit city.

The eats? Funky-looking tacos served like ice cream cones and stuffed with chicken and veggies ... and some interesting cocktails.

Valley folks in attendance included Olivia Raynor, Cheryl Redman, Brona Spolin, Mary Steiger, Beth Stoffmacher, Fred Ulrich, Linda Venis, David West, Albert Chavez, Vivian Copeland, Chris Hardy, Susan Dietz and Karen White, as well as Yet Lock, who represented the CTG's Asian Theatre Workshop. The event was sponsored by American Express, United Airlines, DreamWorks SKG, Seagram Americas and Absolut Citron.

Meanwhile, at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, eight young women made their entry into society. Presented at the 27th annual Debutante Ball sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America were Melissa Amerian of Woodland Hills; Hasmig Chilingirian of Brea; Takuhi Fidanian of Glendale; Nazik Halburian of Van Nuys; Lena Maranian of Encino; Nicole Nigosian of Indian Wells; Cathleen Norian of Beverly Hills; and Christine Zahka of Beverly Hills.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

Photo: (1) Jimmy Smits and Wanda de Jesus were the honorary co-chairmen for matinee benefit performance of ``Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk,'' which opened last week at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

(2) Partygoers at the ``Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk'' benefit include Yet Lock of Studio City, left, with actors Denise Uyehara and Amy Hill and KABC-TV executive Steve Tao. The event benefited Center Theatre Group's four multicultural play-writing programs.

Lee Salem

(3) ``Titanic'' star Gloria Stuart, left, chats with Tippi Hedren during the ``Women Wear the Pants in Hollywood'' gala at Hotel Nikko in Los Angeles. The actresses were part of a panel discussion on trends for women in the entertainment field. It was sponsored by Dockers Khakis for Women clothing line, a division of Levi Strauss & Co., to support the Women in Film Foundation's Film Finishing Fund.

(4) Schmoozing at the 36th anniversary gala for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills are songwriter David Foster, hostess Marlo Thomas and Bette Midler, who headlined the evening's entertainment. The event earned $1.3 million for the hospital and was attended by numerous celebrities, including supermodel Cindy Crawford, ``Friends'' star Matt LeBlanc and ``Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'' star Allison Eastwood.

Berliner Photo